Coating or sealing composition

ABSTRACT

A coating or sealing composition comprising: 
     (a) at least one agent adapted to form a coat or seal when applied onto a substrate; 
     (b) at least one sensor adapted to reveal the presence of the coat or seal under determined conditions; and 
     (c) a volatile excipient in which the above and all other ingredients of the composition are dispersed or dissolved, p1 characterized in that said composition further comprises: 
     (d) at least one UV stabilizer and/or antioxidant.

This is a continuation of international Application PCT/CA96/00726,filed Nov. 1, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an improved composition for coating or sealinga substrate (especially a floor). This composition presents a highdegree of stability during the shelflife and the useful life of thecoats or sealers and is advantageously provided with at least one sensor(e.g. a color precursor) that turned colored under determinedconditions.

b) Brief Description of the Related Art

It is known in the art that particular attention and a well definemethodology is required to properly achieve a uniform and completestripping of a worn coat or sealer applied on a substrate (such as afloor). Indeed, it is compulsory before applying a new coating orsealer, to completely remove the old one.

Up to now to be sure that all the old coating or sealer is removed itwas necessary to repeat a stripping process twice or several times. Eachsubsequent stripping must be carried out on all the surface of thesubstrate initially stripped, and this only for the removal of smallspots of coat remains or sealer remains that still adhere to saidsubstrate and are very hard for sight detections (even forprofessionals). Of course, this drawback is still more accentuated forless trained personnel. Said stripping may be carried out with achemical remover (e.g., an alkaline solution containing organicsolvents) and/or with mechanical devices (especially those using floormaintenance pads). Such a repetition of the stripping processes, is timeconsuming, product consuming and/or energy consuming. Furthermore,repetitive stripping may result into an excessive worn of the substrate(especially when a mechanical action is exerted on the surface of thesubstrate) that will contribute to shorten the useful life of saidsubstrate. Example of said substrate may consist of wood, vinyl,asbestos, terrazzo, etc.) This means lost of quality and efficiency.

To overcome this drawback, it was proposed in the art to add a chemicalsensor directly in sealer and/or coating compositions. Moreparticularly, it was known in the art to embody coating or sealingcompositions provided with a color indicator. Examples of suchcompositions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,070,510 and 4,071,645.

Sensors that are actually incorporated in sealers and/or floor finishand/or spray buffing solution will be revealed by chemical activatorsintendedly added and optimized in stripper mixtures or any related floorcare product. Both chemical sensors and chemical activators arecommercially available in large quantities at reasonable cost and leadtimes.

It is also possible in the art to use different sensors in the sealerand in the floor finish. An adjustment of the concentration of thestripper mixture could then allow to remove the floor finish whileallowing to keep intact the sealer. For example, the use of a cleanerexcessively alkaline or concentrated will be immediately revealed by thesensor contained in the floor finish.

However, prior art compositions embedding color indicators show thedrawbacks of having a bad stability during the useful life of thecoating or sealers. Indeed, these coats and seals show, as a function oftime, a deterioration of their optical properties and sensors become toturn colored or fluorescent. Also, sensors may be altered or reactedwith constituents of the coating or the sealer, so as they cannot turncolored or fluorescent when put into a determined condition susceptibleto transform the sensor into a colored or fluorescent pigment.

Therefore, there is a strong need for a coating or sealing composition(especially a clear coating or sealing composition) that has stableoptical properties during its shelf life and its useful life, and that,when sensors are present therein, is still capable of turned coloredwhen necessary (i.e., when it is required to remove it from thesubstrate covered or sealed) to make easier a complete stripping of thecoating or sealer from the coated or sealed substrate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a coatingcomposition or sealing composition (advantageously a clear floor finishcomposition) that will have an extended shelf life and useful lifewithout suffering deterioration of its color (e.g., for the clear floorfinish, it remains clear) and, when it contains at least one sensor (forexample a color precursor), it is still capable to have its sensoractivated to turn colored under determined conditions (for example underan alkaline treatment).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coatingcomposition or sealing composition (advantageously a clear floor finishcomposition) that will be very easy to remove completely, once sensor isturned colored after having been subjected to determined conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition(advantageously a clear floor finish composition) that improve qualityand efficiency of floor are maintenance systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the followingitems:

An efficiency indicator for stripping mixtures.

An indicator to control the washing conditions for floor finishes (toavoid overdosage of alkali in the cleaner).

An indicator to specify the presence of residual floor finish that arenormally undetected.

An indicator for different layers of coats on a surface (e.g., differentsensors in the sealer and the floor finish, or different sensors betweenthe first and last layers of a coating to reveal and measure the wear ofthe stack of layers).

A interactive visual monitoring system allowing a reactant normallycontained in a maintenance product (e.g. a cleaning formulation obtainedfrom a concentrate) to activate sensors if the dilution of theconcentrate is unsufficient, or a reactant normally contained in astripping solution to reveal the identity of a coat located at the topof a stack of coats. This interactive visual monitoring system mayfurther allow to measure, specify, reveal and control visually(instantly or periodically) the quality of a work (e.g. a stack ofcoatings on a floor) without requiring additional investment and whilerespecting modern application techniques, the intervening parties andthe environment.

A visual monitoring system that is very simple, unavoidably leads to ajob well done with a higher accuracy, a sustained productivity andsubstantial saves, and allows a reduction of the burden of employees andallows an efficient self control.

Means for rendering safer the stripping processes by revealing thepresence of emulsions on the floor (which is slippery).

An indicator for applying a floor finish (the floor finish is coloredwhen applied and turns clear when set).

An indicator where a pressure was applied on the floor finish (thanks tosensors activated by pressure).

Sensors may be used in connection with a wide variety of products, suchas stripping mixtures, floor cleaners, surface neutralizers, soaps(e.g., hand soaps, shower soaps, ect.), disinfectants, dishes or clothescleaning products, industrial products.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coatingcomposition or sealing composition that is stable for a period of atleast one year with respect to the characteristics thanks to theincorporation therein of at least one chemical and/or UV stabilizerand/or antioxidant. Preferably, this stability is noted for temperaturesranging from −18° C. to 50° C.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a layer of coatingor sealing or a stack of layers of coating or sealing, each layer beingobtained by applying a composition according to the invention on asubstrate by any appropriate means, said layer being stable for a periodof at least one year with respect to the characteristics thanks to theincorporation in each layer of at least one chemical and/or UVstabilizer and/or antioxidant.

Examples of means suitable for applying a coating according to theinvention may be selected from the group consisting of brushes, rollerapplicators, flat mops, floor clothes, clothes, sponges, sprinklers,sprayers, scrapers, waxing machines, and all other well knownapplicators.

Another object of the present invention is the selection of chemical orbiochemical or biological sensors (optical, olfactive, sound, ect.).

Sensors are advantageously uniformly distributed in a polymer matrix andpreferably stabilized for energy levels by proper substances (phenolicor any other materials).

Sensors may also consist of fluorescent sensors. For example,fluorescent sensors may be selected from the group consisting of BetaNaphthol and Coumarin.

Another object of the present invention is a method for protecting asurface, comprising the application of several coats of floor finisheson a substrate to define a stack of coats, at least one coat at the baseof the stack defining a composition as defined hereinabove, at least onecoat at the top of the stack defining a composition as definedhereinabove, where the sensor in the coat at the base of the stack isdifferent than the sensor in the coat at the top of the stack.

Another object of the present invention is a method for measuring thewear of a floor coating or sealing, especially a floor coating orsealing comprising a stack of at least two coats of distinct coating orsealing material. Each coat embeds a distict sensor (i.e. providing oncerevealed distinct colors). This method comprise a first step accordingto which a revealer is applied on a floor coating or sealing to activatesensors located in the coat located at the top of the stack, a secondstep for determining whether or not portions of the top coat or seal ofthe floor coating or sealing disappear (i.e. a distinct colorcorresponding to the sensors of the underneath coat will be revealed),and then a third step according to which an eraser is applied on thecoat or seal at the top of the stack to disactivate the sensors.

More particularly, the invention advantageously relates to a method formeasuring the wear of a floor coating or sealing comprising at least onecoat or seal embedding a sensor, wherein:

A) when the sensor is located in a coat or seal normally at the top of astack of at least two coats or seals, it comprises the following steps:

applying a revealer on the floor coating or sealing to activate thesensor located in the coat or seal located at the top of the stack,

determining whether or not portions of the top coat or seal havedisappear (i.e. lack of coloration), and

applying an eraser on the floor coating or sealing to disactivate thesensor.

B) when the sensor is located in a coat or seal underneath the onenormally at the top of a stack of at least two coats or seals, itcomprises the following steps:

applying a revealer on the floor coating or sealing to activate thesensor of any portion of the coat or seal now defining a top surface ofthe floor coating or sealing in replacement of a disappear portion ofthe initial top coat or seal,

determining whether or not portions of the top coat or seal havedisappear (i.e. coloration), and

applying an eraser on the floor coating or sealing to disactivate thesensor if this latter has been activated.

Advantageously, the revealer consist of a formulation containing in anexcipient, a compound that will react with the sensor to activate it(i.e. turn it colored). For example, the revealer may be a basicsolution or emulsion.

Advantageously, the eraser may consist of a formulation containing in anappropriate excipient, a compound that will react with the sensor todisactivate it (i.e. return it to its original color, normally to becomecolorless, transparent). For example, the eraser may be an acidicsolution or emulsion.

Also, the invention advantageously relates to a method for measuring thewear of a floor coating or sealing comprising at least two coats orseals embedding a sensor, the sensor of one coat or seal giving a colordistinct from the one of the other coat or seal, wherein it comprisesthe following steps:

applying a revealer on the floor coating or sealing to activate thesensor of any coat or seal portions located at the top of the stack,

determining whether or not portions of the top coat or seal disappear(i.e. contrasting coloration), and

applying an eraser on the floor coating or sealing to disactivate thesensor.

Of course, once portions of floor coating or sealing are identified asbeing devoid of the top coat or seal, it may be either possible to applya fresh replacement coat or seal only on identified portions, or todecide to replace the whole floor covering.

Also, the invention advantageously relates to a method for determiningwhether or not a maintenance formulation has an appropriateconcentration, said method comprising applying a small portion of themaintenance formulation on a floor coating or sealing comprising a topcoat or seal provided with sensor embedded therein, determining whetheror not the floor coating or sealing turn colored, an then if there is nochange of coloration directly using the maintenance formulation, or ifcolor appears, applying an eraser on the colored spot of the floorcovering or sealing to disactivate the sensor, an readjusting theconcentration of the maintenance formulation.

For example, the substrate may consist of a tile, terazzo, linoleum,vinyl composition flooring, stone, concrete, ect.

Preferably, at least one lower coat is merely intended for protectionwhile at least one upper coat is merely intended for gloss, wearproperties, response to buffing, dirt penetration, slip control, ect.

The present invention relates to -a coating or sealing composition ofthe type comprising:

(A) a material comprising:

at least one agent adapted to form a coating or sealer, and at least oneadditive defining a chemical and/or a U.V. stabilizer and/orantioxidant; and

(B) a volatile excipient in which the above ingredients are eitherdispersed or dissolved.

Advantageously, the invention relates to a composition defining a clearcoating or sealer, and comprising:

(A) from 1 to 60% by weight of a material comprising: at least one agentadapted to form a clear coating or sealer; and at least one additivedefining a U.V. stabilizer and/or antioxidant; and

(B) from 99 to 40% by weight of a volatile excipient in which the aboveingredients are either dispersed or dissolved.

Advantageously, the U.V. stabilizers and/or anti-oxidants may beselected from the group consisting of diterbutylparacresol,4-dodecyloxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, resorcinol monobenzoate andresorcinol.

Advantageously, the additive defining a U.V. stabilizer and/orantioxidant may at least comprise a mixture of diterbutylparacresol andresorcinol. Preferably, the diterbutylparacresol and the resorcinol arerespectively in such an amount to represent from 0.00001 to 150 g perliter of resulting composition without the U.V. stabilizer and/orantioxidant.

Advantageously, the additive defining a U.V. stabilizer and/or anaptioxidant may represents from 0.0005% to 0.2% (more preferably from0.005% to 0.1%) by weight with respect to the total weight of thecomposition.

Preferably, the agent adapted to form a coating or sealer may beselected from the group consisting of

polymers, coalescents, plasticizers, waxes, alkali soluble resins andmixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred polymers may be selected from the groupconsisting of acrylic polymer emulsion, modified acrylic zinc complexespolymer latex, modified acrylic zinc completed polymer emulsion, acrylicstyrene metal cross linked copolymers emulsion, styrene acrylic metalcross linked copolymers emulsion, acrylic styrene copolymers emulsion,styrene acrylic copolymers, mixture of any of those with urethane andfluoroacrylic polymers.

Particularly preferred coalescents may be selected from the groupconsisting of monomethyl ether of diethylene glycol, monoethylether ofdiethylene glycol and mono-methylether of dipropylene glycol.

Particularly preferred permanent plasticizers may be selected from thegroup consisting of dibutyl phthalate, triphenylphosphate andtributoxyethyl phosphate.

Particularly preferred waxes may be selected from the group consistingof polyolefin waxes and ester of polyolefin waxes.

Particularly preferred waxes may be selected amongst carnauba and othernatural waxes.

Particularly preferred alkali soluble resins may be selected from thegroup consisting of acrylic interpolymer of copolymer metal, ionic crosslinked type or alkali soluble resins or acrylic resin or acrylicterpolymer resins. Examples of particularly preferred alkali solubleresins may be selected from the group consisting of styrene maleicanhydride aqueous ammoniacal solution.

Particularly preferred excipients may be selected from the groupconsisting of water, coalescent mixtures of solvents and azeotropicmixtures of solvents.

Advantageously, additives may further comprise at least one sensor suchas a clear filler defining a color precursor adapted to reveal thepresence of the coating or sealer under determined conditions.

Sensors may define color precursors, odor precursors, sound precursorsetc. Preferably, sensors are color precursors (including colors revealedby fluorescence). They are advantageously uniformly distributed in thecoat or seal and they may be stabilized if necessary for energy revelwith proper substances (phenolic or any other materials).

A particularly preferred clear filler defining a color precursor mayconsist of phenolphthalein and is adapted to become colored (includingby fluorescence) under appropriate pH conditions.

A particularly preferred clear filler defining a color precursor mayconsist of thymolphthalein and is adapted to become colored underappropriate pH conditions.

A particularly preferred clear filler defining a color precursor mayconsist of ortho-cresolphthalein and is adapted to become colored underappropriate pH conditions.

Other particularly preferred clear filler may define a color precursor(by fluorescence) and may be selected from the group consisting of BetaNaphthol and Coumarin.

Advantageously, the clear filler defining a color precursor adapted toreveal the presence of the coating under determined conditions may be insuch an amount to represent from 0.00001 to 150 g per liter of resultingcomposition without the clear filler and U.V. stabilizer and/orantioxidant. More particularly, the clear filler defining a colorprecursor may represent from 0.025% to 0.5% by weight (especially from0.05% to 0.25% by weight) of the total weight of the composition toobtain.

Advantageously, the composition may further comprises a chemicalstabilizer, preferably a buffer to control the pH of the coating orsealer. A particularly preferred buffer may consist of a mixture ofcitric acid/sodium citrate, trishydroxymethyl amino methane/HCl, sodiummethylate/phenyl acetic acid, borax/HCl and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, andpreferably of borax/HCl.

Advantageously, the pH of the composition may vary from 7.2 to 10.5,more particularly from 8.1 to 8.8. When borax mixture is used, the pH ispreferably of 8.2.

Advantageously, the buffer may be in such an amount to represent from0.00001 to 150 g per liter of resulting coating or sealing compositionwithout buffer and U.V. stabilizer and/or antioxidant and clear filler.Preferably, the buffer represents from 0.5% to 4% by weight (especiallyfrom 1.5% to 2.5% by weight) of the total weight of the composition.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be better understood, in the light of thefollowing examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Prior Art

A floor finish having the following formulation has been prepared:

INGREDIENTS WEIGHT % 1 Deonized water 58.05 2 Surfactant⁽¹⁾ (1%) 0.89 3Anti-foaming agent⁽²⁾ 0.01 4 Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether 3.74 5Dibutylphtalate 0.94 6 Tributoxy ethyl phosphate 0.94 75-chloro-2-methyl-4 isothiazolin-3-one 0.03 (1.15%) 82-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (0.35%) 0.03 9 Aqueous acrylic zinccrosslink-polymer 29.57 mulsion (38%)⁽³⁾ 10  Ethylene-acrylic acidcopolymer emulsion⁽⁴⁾ 4.19 11  Non ionic polyethylene emulsion⁽⁵⁾ 1.4112  Phenolphthalein 0.20 TOTAL 100.00 ⁽¹⁾FLUORAD FC-120 ® Anionic typefluorocarbon surface active agent, supplied by 3M. ⁽²⁾DEE FO PI 35 ®Siloxane glycol copolymer, supplied by Ultra Additives Incorporated.⁽³⁾RHOPLEX B-924 ® supplied by Rohm and Haas Co. ⁽⁴⁾AG-540 ® supplied byAllied Chemical Co. ⁽⁵⁾AC-392 ® supplied by Allied Chemical Co.

Preparation process at ambiant temperature. (20-25° C.)

A) Use a first stainless steel tank.

B) Add 80% of water directly in the tank.

C) Start a mechanical stirrer for stirring the content of the firststainless steel tank.

D) Add items 4, 5 and 6, in a weight in a second stainless steel tank,mix the content and then transfer in the first stainless steel tank.

E) Add a part of the remaining water in the second stainless steel tankin order to clean it, and then pour the content thereof in the firststainless steel tank.

F) Add item 2 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

G) Prepare an aqueous solution of item 3 and after stirring pours saidsolution in the first stainless steel tank.

H) Prepare an aqueous solution of item 7 and 8, and after stirring poursaid solution in the first stainless steel tank.

I) Add item 9 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

J) Add item 10 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

K) Add item 11 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

L) Add item 12 in 2 liters of NaOH 0.1N, dissolve and pour in the firststainless steel tank.

M) Continue stirring for 2 hours.

Then the resulting mixture was applied on a substrate (an vinyl-asbestostile) and allowed to set.

EXAMPLE 2

A floor finish having the following formulation has been prepared:

INGREDIENTS WEIGHT % 1 Deonized water 58.19 2 Surfactant⁽¹⁾ (1%) 0.89 3Anti-foaming agent⁽²⁾ 0.01 4 Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether 3.74 5Dibutylphtalate 0.94 6 Tributoxy ethyl phosphate 0.94 75-chloro-2-methyl-4 isothiazolin-3-one 0.03 (1.15%) 82-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (0.35%) 0.03 9 Aqueous acrylic zinccrosslink polymer 29.57 emulsion (38%)⁽³⁾ 10  Ethylene acrylic acidcopolymer 4.19 emulsion⁽⁴⁾ 11  Non ionic polyethylene emulsion 1.41 12 Phenolphthalein 0.05 13  Ditert butyl paracresol 0.01 TOTAL 100.00⁽¹⁾FLUORAD FC-120 ® Anionic type fluorocarbon surface active agent,supplied by 3M. ⁽²⁾DEE FO PI 35 ® Siloxane glycol copolymer, supplied byUltra Additives Incorporated. ⁽³⁾Thoplex b-984 ® supplied by Rohm andHaas Co. ⁽⁴⁾AG-540 ® supplied by Allied Chemical Co. ⁽⁵⁾AC-392 ®supplied by Allied Chemical Co.

Preparation process at ambient temperature (20-25° C.).

A) Use a first stainless steel tank.

B) Add 80% of water directly in the tank.

C) Start a mechanical stirrer for stirring the content of the firststainless steel tank.

D) Add items 4, 5 and 6, in a weight in a second stainless steel tank,mix the content and then transfer in the first stainless steel tank.

E) Add a part of the remaining water in the second stainless steel tankin order to clean it, and then pour the content thereof in the firststainless steel tank.

F) Add item 2 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

G) Prepare an aqueous solution of item 3 and after stirring pour saidsolution in the first stainless steel tank.

H) Prepare an aqueous solution of items 7 and 8, and after stirring poursaid solution in the first stainless steel tank.

I) Add item 9 directly in the first stainless steel tank;

J) Add item 10 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

K) Add item 11 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

L) Add item 12 and 13 in 2 liters of NaOH 0.1N, dissolve and pour in thefirst stainless steel tank.

M) Continue stirring for 2 hours.

Then the resulting mixture was applied on a substrate (an vinyl-asbestostile) and allowed to set.

EXAMPLE 3

A floor finish having the following formulation has been prepared:

INGREDIENTS WEIGHT % 1 Deonized water 56.31 2 Borax buffer adjusted topH 8,2 1.88 3 Surfactant⁽¹⁾ (1%) 0.89 4 Anti-foaming agent⁽²⁾ 0.01 5Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether 3.74 6 Dibutylphtalate 0.94 7Tributoxy ethyl phosphate 0.94 8 5-chloro-2-methyl-4 isothiazolin-3-one0.03 (1.15%) 9 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (0.35%) 0.03 10  Aqueousacrylic zinc crosslink polymer 29.57 emulsion⁽⁴⁾ Ethylene acrylic acidcopolymer 4.19 emulsion⁽⁴⁾ 12  Non ionic polyethylene emulsion⁽⁵⁾ 1.4113  Phenolphthalein 0.05 14  Ditert butyl paracresol 0.01 TOTAL 100.00⁽¹⁾FLUORAD FC-120 ® Anionic type fluorocarbon surface active agent,supplied by 3M. ⁽²⁾DEE FO PI 35 ® Siloxane glycol copolymer, supplied byUltra Additives Incorporated. ⁽³⁾Rhoplex B-924 ® supplied by Rohm andHaas Co. ⁽⁴⁾AG-540 ® supplied by Allied Chemical Co. ⁽⁵⁾AC-392 suppliedby Allied Chemical Co.

Preparation process at ambiant temperature. (20-25° C.)

A) Use a first stainless steel tank.

B) Add 80% of water directly in the tank.

C) Start a mechanical stirrer for stirring the content of the firststainless steel tank.

D) Add items 5, 6 and 7, in a weight in a second stainless steel tank,mix the content and then transfer in the first stainless steel tank.

E) Add a part of the remaining water in the second stainless steel tankin order to clean it, and then pour the content thereof in the firststainless steel tank.

F) Add item 2 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

G) Prepare an aqueous solution of item 3 and after stirring pour saidsolution in the first stainless steel tank.

H) Add item 4 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

I) Prepare an aqueous solution of items 8 and 9, and after stirring poursaid solution in the first stainless steel tank.

I) Add item 10 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

J) Add item 11 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

K) Add item 12 directly in the first stainless steel tank.

L) Add items 13 and 14 in 2 liters of NaOH 0.1N, dissolve and pour inthe first stainless steel tank.

M) Continue stirring for 2 hours.

Then the resulting mixture was applied on a substrate (an vinyl-asbestostile) and allowed to set.

This formulation is merely made by mixing of various ingredients in amixer. Then the resulting mixture was applied on a substrate and allowedto set.

TABLE EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 3 COLOR Yellow-beige White WhiteAPPEAR (Prior Art) ANCE Pantone AFTER (30 5245C DAYS) Gloss*¹ x x x (n =6) 20° C. 60° C. 20° C. 60° C. 20° C. 60° C. 1 coat  3.8 19.4  5.9 27.8 6.7 30.2 2 coats 12.7 42.7 14.5 46.5 18.4 53.9 3 coats 16.8 49.2 26.659.1 38.9 77.5 Sensor Very bad Good Good activity appearance appearanceappearance (1 year) Sensor Full red Full red chemically Color Colordegraded activity activity Commercial NO YES YES validity *¹Lost ofgloss for Example 1 is important but the yellow beige appearanceassociated makes it look like a real worn floor finish. It hasabsolutely no commercial value at all.

From those results, double stabilization by both buffer and antioxidantis even better. One can even appreciate better gloss values in Example3. In terms of gloss value, the measurement at 20° represent a depth ofgloss and the 60° is the brightness perceived by the customer walking ina hall.

For commercial product, it is very important to sell a white andtransparent floor finish providing high gloss associated to cleanlinessof the coated surface. Example 2 and more particularly Example 3 reallymeet the above mentioned specifications. The worn appearance generatedby chemical sensor degradation in Example 1 make this floor finish ofabsolutely no commercial value.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aqueous floor coating or sealing compositionhaving long term stability and glossiness, the composition comprising:(a) at least one agent to form a coat or seal when applied onto asubstrate; (b) at least one sensor to reveal the presence of the coat orseal under determined conditions; and (c) a volatile excipientcomprising water and in which the above and all other ingredients of thecomposition are dispersed or dissolved, characterized in that saidcomposition further comprises: (d) at least one antioxidant, and (e) atleast one buffer to maintain the pH of the coating or sealingcomposition between 7.2 and 10.5, wherein the sensor in the compositiondoes not chemically degrade after 1 year.
 2. The composition of claim 1,characterized in that: said at least one agent (a) is selected amongstthose that can form a coat or seal that is clear; the compositioncontains from 1 to 60% by weight of said at least one agent (a), said atleast one sensor (b) and said antioxidant (d); and said compositioncontains from 99 to 40% by weight of said volatile excipient (c).
 3. Thecomposition of claim 1, characterized in that the antioxidant (d) isdi-tert-butylparacresol.
 4. The composition according to claim 1,wherein said at least one agent (a) is selected from the groupconsisting of polymers, polymer emulsions, coalescents, plasticizers,waxes, alkali soluble resins and mixtures thereof.
 5. The compositionaccording to claim 4, characterized in that: the polymer in the polymeremulsion is selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymers;acrylic polymers complexed with zinc; copolymers of styrene and acrylicnonomers; and metal crosslinked copolymers of styrene and acrylicmonomers; the coalescents are selected from the group consisting ofmonomethyl ether of diethylene glycol, monoethylether of diethyleneglycol and monomethylether of dipropylene glycol; the plasticizers areselected from the group consisting of dibutyl phthalate,triphenylphosphate and tributoxyethyl phosphate; the waxes are selectedfrom the group consisting of polyolefin waxes and esters of polyolefinwaxes; and the alkali soluble resins are selected from the groupconsisting of acrylic copolymers complexed with a metal, ionic crosslinked resins, and acrylic terpolymer resin.
 6. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said at least one agent (a) is selectedfrom the group consisting of carnauba waxes and aqueous ammoniacalsolutions of styrene maleic anhydride.
 7. The composition according toclaim 1, wherein said at least one sensor (b) is a color precursorselected from the group consisting of phenolphthalein, thymolphthaleinand orthocresolphthalein.
 8. The composition according to claim 7characterized in that said sensor is present in an amount ranging from0.00001 to 150 g per liter of said composition without the sensor andantioxidant.
 9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein: thebuffer is present in an amount ranging from 0.00001 to 150 g per literof said composition without said sensor and antioxidant.
 10. Thecomposition according to claim 9, wherein the buffer consists of amixture of borax and HCl and the pH is 8.2.
 11. A method for protectinga surface comprising the step of applying several coats of floorfinishes onto the surface to form a stack of coats thereon, said stackhaving a bottom portion and a top portion, characterized in tat at leastone coat in the bottom portion of the stack and at least one coat in thetop portion of the stack are independently comprised of the floorcoating or sealing composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sensorpresent in at least one layer of the top portion of the stack isdifferent than a sensor present in at least one layer of the bottomportion of the stack.
 12. A method for measuring the wear of a floorcoating or sealing comprising a plurality of coats or seals forming astack, at least one of said coats or seals being made of a compositionas claimed in claim 1 which incorporates a sensor, characterized inthat: a) when the sensor is incorporated in the coat or seal on top ofthe stack, said method comprises the following steps: applying arevealer on the floor coating or sealing to activate the sensor locatedin the coat or seal on top of the stack, determining by means of saidactivated sensor whether or not portions of the top coat or seal havedisappeared, and applying an eraser on the floor coating or sealing todeactivate the sensor; and b) when the sensor is incorporated in one ofthe coats or seals that are underneath the one on top of the stack, saidmethod comprises the following steps: applying a revealer on the floorcoating or sealing to activate the sensor of any portion of the coat orseal that incorporates said sensor and may now have become on top of thefloor coating or sealing because of wear and disappearance of the topcoat or seal, determining by means of said activated sensor whether ornot portions of the top coat or seal have disappeared, and applying aneraser on the floor coating or sealing to deactivate the sensor if saidsensor has been activated because of the wear and disapperance of thetop coat or seal.
 13. A method for measuring the wear of a floor coatingor sealing comprising at least two coats or seals made of a compositionas claimed in claim 1, each of said coats or seals incorporating asensor which is a color precursor, the sensor of one of said coats orseals having when activated a color distinct from the one of the othercoats or seals, said method comprising the following steps: applying arevealer on top of the floor coating or sealing to activate the sensorcontained in the coat or seal extending on top of the stack, determiningby means of said sensor which is activated or not whether or notportions of the original top coat or seal have disappeared, applying aneraser on the floor coating or sealing to deactivate the sensor.
 14. Amethod for determining whether or not a floor maintenance formulationhas an appropriate concentration, said method comprising the steps of:applying a small portion of the maintenance formulation onto a floorcoating or sealing according to claim 1 comprising a top coat or sealincorporating a color precursor-containing sensor reactive to theconcentration of said maintenance formulation; determining whether ornot the floor coating or sealing turns colored, and if there is nochange of coloration, completing the application of the maintenanceformulation or, if a coloration appears, applying an eraser on thecolored portions of the floor coating or sealing to deactivate thesensor, adjusting the concentration of the maintenance formulation andapplying the adjusted maintenance formulation onto the floor coating orsealing.
 15. The method of claim 4, characterized in that the floormaintenance formulation is an alkali cleaner.
 16. A method fordetermining whether a floor coating or sealing comprising a plurality ofcoats or seals forming a stack has been properly removed afterapplication of a stripping mixture, the coats or seals independentlycomprising the composition of claim 1, the sensor of each coat or sealactivated in the presence of the stripping mixture, the methodcomprising the steps of (a) applying the stripping mixture to the floorto activate the sensor contained in any remaining portion of the floorcoating or sealing, (b) determining by means of said sensor which isactivated or not whether or not portions of the original floor coatingor sealing remain.
 17. A method for determining whether a floor finishhas been properly applied, the method comprising the step of applying acomposition as claimed in claim 1 as said floor finish, the sensor ofthe composition being colored when applied and turning clear when set.18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the sensor becomes colored byfluorescence and is selected from the group consisting ofphenolphthalein, Beta-Naphthol and Coumarin.
 19. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting ofmixtures of citric acid and sodium citrate; mixtures oftrishydroxymethyl amino methane and HCl; mixtures of sodium methylateand phenylacetic acid; mixtures of borax and HCl; and mixtures of borax,HCl, and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine.
 20. The composition of claim 4,wherein the polymer is a styrene acrylic copolymer.
 21. The compositionaccording to claim 19, characterized in that said UV stabilizer isresorcinol and said antioxidant (d) is di-tert-butylparacresol.
 22. Thecomposition according to claim 21, characterized in thatdi-tert-butylparacresol and resorcinol are respectively present inamounts ranging from 0.00001 to 150 g per liter of said composition. 23.The composition of claim 1, further comprising a UV stabilizer.
 24. Thecomposition of claim 23, wherein the UV stabilizer is selected from thegroup consisting of 4-dodecyloxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, resorcinolmonobenzoate, resorcinol and their mixtures.
 25. The composition ofclaim 23, wherein said sensor is present in an amount ranging from0.00001 to 150 g per liter of said composition without the sensor, UVstabilizer, and antioxidant.
 26. The composition of claim 23, whereinthe buffer is present in an amount ranging from 0.00001 to 150 g perliter of said composition without said sensor and UV stabilizer and/orantioxidant.